The April 30, 2025 meeting of the University Council took place in the Hall of Flags at Houston Hall. President J. Larry Jameson thanked the council for its service this year. He noted that despite recent federal challenges, Penn remains committed to protecting its mission, its academic values, and its people, and wants to continue to ensure that all members of the community can fully engage in campus life. He also commended Melissa Wilde, professor of sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences, for her service on the occasion of her last meeting as University Council moderator.

Dr. Wilde asked the Council for corrections to the April 2 meeting minutes and took note of one correction. She asked for submissions of possible focus issue presentations for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Council heard year-end reports of the University Council committees. Presenters included:

• Kathleen Brown (Committee on Committees)
• Olivia Mitchell (Personnel Benefits)
• William Burke-White (Academic & Related Affairs)
• Louis Rulli (Diversity & Equity)
• Rashida Ng (Facilities)
• Vincent Reina (Campus & Community Life)
• Lisa Bellini (Open Expression)

The full reports of these committees can be found in this week’s Almanac supplement.

Sigal Ben-Porath, MRMJJ Presidential Professor in the Graduate School of Education and co-chair of Penn’s Open Expression Task Force, gave an update on the work of the task force. Its primary charge during the 2024-2025 academic year was to review Penn’s Guidelines on Open Expression, which were last updated in 1969. Temporary guidelines are currently in place. Dr. Ben-Porath described the three prongs of Penn’s open expression process: the guidelines, the committee, and the open expression observers program.

Associate Vice President and Associate University Secretary Lizann Boyle Rode addressed topics presented during the open forum and new business portions of the April 2 meeting. These concerns have been shared with the relevant campus resources.

During the new business portion of the meeting, topics raised included:

• Job security for postdoctoral researchers amidst federal funding cuts
• The formal nature of council meetings, and a call for more open dialog
• Barriers to integration into academic life on campus for transfer students
• A call for Penn to respond to the results of the fall 2024 Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness Survey
• University financial support for student groups that wish to host events

The next meeting of University Council will take place on September 10, 2025.